MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Weather radars couldn’t cope with moody Motegi, the promise of a dry Sunday already forgotten by the time Moto2 riders reached turn 3 and found rain. The race was red flagged before the end of the opening lap and then restarted for a shortened 12-lap wet race, but the light rain in pitlane prompted a dilemma amongst riders about tyre choice. In the end, it was the men who went against the tide in opting for slicks that came out on top, first of which was Manuel Gonzalez. Helped by the quickly drying conditions, the Spaniard went from outside of the top 20 to top spot almost in the blink of an eye and took a memorable maiden victory, denying home favourite Ai Ogura. The world championship leader didn’t need to take the gamble on slicks but still did so and it was a stroke of genius as second place gives him a healthy chunk of points and an opportunity to wrap up the title in Australia. After an excellent Friday and a difficult Saturday, Filip Salac turned his weekend around to climb onto the third step of the podium. 

Poleman Jake Dixon had the advantage at the start of proceedings, keeping the lead ahead of teammate Izan Guevara, who made a solid start to soon attack Aron Canet for second. Alonso Lopez also got in the mix early on, with a fast-starting duo of Celestino Vietti and Tony Arbolino further demoting Canet to 6^th by the end of the opening lap. Diogo Moreira, Barry Baltus, Darryn Binder and Sergio Garcia were also in the early top 10 on lap 1, while a cautious Ogura dropped to 14^th on his slicks but was quickly back knocking at the doors of the top 10. The Japanese rider was up into 7^th position by the end of lap 2, while the rest of his rivals on slicks took a bit longer to get going, Zonta van den Goorbergh dropping from the front row down to 22^nd position, with Gonzalez also outside of the top 20. 

While Dixon, Lopez and Vietti led the field on their rain tyres, Ogura got fully up to speed and had an exceptional lap 3, making light work of the likes of Guevara, Arbolino and Canet, and was soon attacking Vietti and Lopez that same lap, already making a move for the lead at the start of lap 4. The Japanese rider was so much quicker than his rivals on the drying track that he quickly gapped Dixon by over four seconds by the end of that lap. Gonzalez was also making waves through the wet pack on his slicks and took over second position on lap 5, rushing to catch up with the runaway leader and dropping that group four seconds back. The rest of the men on slicks also came to the fore over the next lap, Jeremy Alcoba and Salac joining the top four positions, with Van den Goorbergh quickly recovering to complete the top five by lap 6. Lopez and Vietti were first of the wet rubber lot in the battle for 6^th, taking place 14 seconds behind the leader, but were soon to lose that battle to slick-clad Xavi Artigas, while poleman Dixon faded to 10^th and Garcia to 13^th.

Back at the front, Gonzalez easily reeled in Ogura by lap 8 but working out a way past took a little longer, the Spaniard making his move next time around turn 9 and taking the lead with four laps remaining. Ogura was unable to retaliate and let Gonzalez go, while the threat from behind was non-existent. Salac and Alcoba were deciding 3^rd between themselves over eight seconds behind the championship leader, after dropping Van den Goorbergh in a lonely 5^th. Even lonelier was Artigas in 6^th, the Spaniard 17 seconds behind the Dutchman and 13 seconds ahead of the fight for 7^th position between Vietti, Moreira and Lopez. Dixon was still defending 10^th from Guevara and Arbolino, with Aldeguer another second back in 13^th position. 

Gonzalez started the final lap over a second ahead of Ogura and expertly managed that gap until the chequered flag to secure his first win. Ogura settled for second on home soil, with Salac defending third from Alcoba. Van den Goorbergh and Artigas crossed the finish line next, with Vietti sealing the deal on 7^th position ahead of Moreira. Lopez finished a lonely 9^th, with Guevara winning the battle for 10^th against Arbolino and Aldeguer, while Dixon faded to 13^th place. Garcia and Binder completed the point-scoring positions, with Canet dropping to 16^th. 

Although he missed out on a precious victory at home, Ogura’s brave bet paid off and he extends his advantage in the world championship to a sizeable 60 points over Garcia, while Lopez takes over third position from Canet – the Spaniards 65 and 72 points behind leader. 

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